Put on Your Armour and Fight

Isaiah  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  44:57
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Ephesians 6:10-13

Introduction

Over the last weeks we have talked about some deep and dark things
There is a real and powerful realm and spiritual battle that we all are part of
Spirit of Babylon is alive and well today and will grow in influence
The one behind the king of Babylon still holds strong sway in this world - He is the Prince of the power of the air
As several have noted to me these are hard truths to grasp & understand
It can even make us feel overwhelmed & powerless
Some use this to prove our belief in a Tribulation & actual Kingdom are silly and anti-God
Today I want to remind us that God has prepared us for this exact situation
I want us to revisit a familiar and I hope strengthening passage of Scripture
I think going through a book of the Bible is important
Also think we need to see it in broader context of Scripture too
READ Eph. 6:10-20
Finally – not last thing on mind or of least importance
Perhaps 1 of most important practical applications of letter
We live in both physical & spiritual realm
They aren’t separate things but each influences the other
Knocks us back into reality – not going to be easy
We have an enemy that wants to destroy us
Jn. 10:10a - The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
As if been in church & Paul finishes by say ‘now you know all of this here’s what you need to do when you walk out those doors”
Focus today isn’t whole armor of God but the call to wear it and use it
Set the tone & course for next few weeks

Be Strong and Courageous

Eph. 6:10

Get in the Battle

There is a battle raging around you

Lots of talk about spiritual warfare these days
2 extremes:
Everything is devils fault
Too much emphasis on Satan etc
Assuming the answer to every conspiracy, weird or unexplained thing is demons
Spiritual mapping, seek out demonic powers, exorcism (never told to do)
Basically indifferent to work of Satan
Wonder why we fail so often
While we’re not to be consumed with spirit world we must be aware
So much takes place that we’re unaware of
Unbeknownst to us often we end up playing part in a cosmic battle
Battle which began long ago when a beautiful angel Lucifer revolted against God
Goal today isn’t to prove God & Satan exist
Goal is to open your eyes to a war being waged all throughout the cosmos & beyond
Not a battle to steal your salvation
Battle to possess the glories of your salvation
*Jn. 10:27-30 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
To rob you of joy, peace, usefulness, etc.

Get in & fight

This is our call to arms, to fight - not to fear & hiding
1 part of Pastor’s role is to encourage & edify - to strengthen your heart & build you up
This sermon is meant to do that
Yes, the wickedness of Babylon exists & is powerful
We must not hide but fight spiritual wickedness is high places
It’s reminder that we are in a battle
Paul uses this picture often
1 Tim. 1:18 – wage a good warfare
1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We must get this in our heads
Christian life isn’t a stroll through lush green meadows of life
It’s a battle in enemy territory
You must get in the battle
Fight for the advancement of God’s kingdom
Fight for glory of God to be seen
For many believers life seems like gently stroll
We’re not living for God, not serving God, not pushing forward into Satan’s domain
We’re happy & comfortable, afraid of what may be if I identify with God, serve God, witness for God, live for God
Brothers & sisters we are soldiers – soldiers of Christ arise!
We gather here to equip & encourage we step out those doors to battle for glory of God & salvation of the lost
Why would we get involved in battle?
We care for souls
We care for believers who need to be strengthened & encouraged so we fight for & with them
We fight to rescue souls of the lost from eternal destruction

God is on Your Side

Be strong

God calls us to be strong in face of overwhelming & powerful enemy
To stand strong & take ground
Not to retreat
*1 Cor. 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Not about our own strength but be strong in the Lord
Trust Him, rest in Him, follow His lead
Take courage from the “captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10)
Like Joshua before Jericho
Josh. 5:13-14 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

In God’s Power

Satan may be powerful but God is all powerful
Eph. 1:19-20
Judges 6:12 – And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him [Gideon], and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
What makes a man like Gideon a mighty man of valor? The Lord is with Him
As David reminded Israel before Goliath, “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:47)
With Christ you have the power to fight
Be strong and of good courage…the Lord goes before you & will be with you. (Deut. 31:7-8)

Don’t Fear Your Enemy

Eph. 6:11-12

Be Prepared to Face Your Enemy

The War is Won

Yes, we are in a fierce battle
War has been won
*“His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure” Martin Luther (A Mighty Fortress)
That is what the cross was all about
Christ defeated sin, death & the devil
*Heb. 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
His rage is the death throws of a conquered enemy

God Equips for the Battle

Armor of God

Know Your Enemy

Adapted from sermon at Austin Stone Community Church “Understanding Our Enemy” https://austinstone.org/resources/sermons/606--understanding-our-enemy

Three things Satan is:

He is a brilliant & powerful enemy
Don’t think too highly of ourselves
Battles & temptations we face are rarely, if ever, Satan himself
Nevertheless, Satan & his demons aren’t weak, pathetic, dumb beings
Lucifer was chief angel
Probably wiser & more spiritually sensitive than us
Able to convince Adam & Eve to rebel – they weren’t gullible & stupid
Rev. 12:7 – final battle in heaven Michael, God’s most powerful angel is sent to battle
He is determined & dangerous
1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Satan is a hunter & he doesn’t give up
He is determined to ruin God’s plan
Lk. 22:31 – Peter knew this from experience
If you are serving God, Satan will be hunting you
He is cunning (Eph. 6:10)
He knows how to take advantage of our weaknesses & sins
Eph. 4:27
Not random & purposeless
He is wise, prepared
God prepares us for this
2 Cor. 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
He reveals to us in the Bible all we need to know

Three things Satan is not:

Make sure we put him in right perspective
He is not equal to God
He is not omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent
Only handful of times Bible says specifically Satan attacking
Satan is powerful but he’s not God
He is not in control, God is
Lk. 22:31-32 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
E.g. Job – Satan is allowed to tempt but only inside what God allows
He isn’t the ultimate cause of your sin
Jas. 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
You can & will be tempted by Satan
When you sin it is because you wanted to

Fight Valiantly

Eph. 6:12-13

The Battle is not Easy

It is a spiritual battle

Repeats to take whole (panoplia) armour of God
This is important, you need this
You can’t live for & serve Christ without it
Battle isn’t against people
Enemies are people – they’re being used by Satan
If we refuse or can’t be bothered to suit up with armour we will be useless

Take up the whole armour

Be strong in Lord, power of His might
Reason armour is so important is because it is Jesus Christ

The Time to Fight is Now

Today is the evil day

We’re not waiting for Armageddon
Eph. 5:16 – evil days are now
Today is the day for fighting
Rest will come in eternity
Satan is actively seeking destruction
It is our duty to fight, to take ground
We do that by preaching gospel, witnessing, living for Christ, serving, bringing glory to God in all things
Use this life wisely, walk in the Spirit

Stand strong

Conclusion

Christianity isn’t just about morality or compassion for weak
Not about trying to do good to please God
It’s not ultimately about what we can see
Christianity is firstly supernatural
Must be lived with supernatural power
We come to church to be strengthened to the fight
We witness because souls of men are in real danger
We follow Christ, our Captain, because He is the only way we can stand in the fight
Believer, you are a soldier in a real, dangerous & eternally significant battle
Stand up and fight
Unbeliever, we are fighting for you
Christ died on the cross for your sin, to rescue you from death
We preach Christ, serve Christ, live for Christ so you will see you need Him as Saviour
Benediction
Ephesians 3:20–21 “20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
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